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| Africa North |
| Obama says Libyan forces must pull back |
| 2011-03-19 |
[Arab News] President Barack B.O.Obama said on Friday Muammar Qadaffy's government must end violence and pull back troops from towns under attack, or face military action. Qadaffy's government earlier declared a unilateral cease-fire as Western warplanes prepared to attack his forces, which had defeated rebels in the western city of Zawiyah and driven them back in a counter-offensive toward Benghazi in the east. In the rebel-held western city of Misrata, surrounded by government forces, residents said there was no sign of a cease-fire. And in the rebel-controlled east, the government declaration was dismissed as a ruse. "All attacks against civilians must stop," Obama said. "Qadaffy must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata and Zawiyah, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya." "Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable... If Qadaffy does not comply ... the resolution will be enforced through military action." French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said everything was ready to launch military strikes in Libya and that the cease-fire would need to cover the whole country. Britain, like La Belle France a strong advocate of armed action, said it would judge Qadaffy by "actions, not his words." After embarking on wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States had insisted it would participate in rather than lead any military action. Obama said the United States would not deploy ground troops in Libya. Turkey, an opponent of military action, said the Libyan cease-fire should go into effect immediately. "We decided on an immediate cease-fire and on an immediate stop to all military operations," Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said in Tripoli earlier, after the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorizing military action. He called for dialogue with all sides. On Thursday, Qadaffy had vowed to show "no mercy, no pity." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 On what basis does this A**brain in DC shoot at 'daffy? This should be an impeachable offense since there is no treaty, nor attack on an ally no less on the US to warrant any attack on a sovereign nation. What the F is congress doing???? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2011-03-19 17:06 |
| #10 No - just "little brown people" that meet certain criteria set by the international-elite. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-03-19 13:31 |
| #9 Pappy, does that R2P mean that the UN has a responsibility to protect folks in Wisconsin from the union thugs of SEIU and the police? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2011-03-19 13:25 |
| #8 It's more like an International Peace operation to protect civilians. It's ahhh....a No Fly Zone...yeah that's the ticket. The UN Phrase of the Year is 'Responsibility to Protect' or to use the hip acronym, R2P. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-03-19 13:19 |
| #7 "Where is the basic understanding of logic or cause and effect?" Good grief, Hellfish, what makes you think he ever had any? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2011-03-19 12:53 |
| #6 It amazes me that this 'president' denigrates the reputation of the US for his first two years in office and then attempts to use the influence he weakened to effect events. Where is the basic understanding of logic or cause and effect? |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2011-03-19 12:45 |
| #5 I find myself in the odd position of being in agreement with Dennis Kucinich on this one. Think about it. Team Obama said it was neccessary to wait until the Arab League gave the green light before committing to military action. You know, the Great Satan bombing yet another Mooselimb country and all that jazz. Next it was off to Gay Parree to consult with Euro-Dips and NATO brass to make sure they were cool with it. Now all Obama needed was the blessing from the High Priests of Global Governance - The UN. Then a funny thing happened on the way to Trippoli - the President neglected to ask Congress for the authorization of force. No worries you useless tools in the US congress. It's not like we're protecting an armed rebellion of Islamic cut-throats in order to facilitate a regime change in a soveriegn nation that poses no threat to our national security. And don't call it a War either. It's more like an International Peace operation to protect civilians. It's ahhh....a No Fly Zone...yeah that's the ticket. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2011-03-19 12:45 |
| #4 Lines in the sand don't mean much if they do not have force and action to back it up. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-03-19 10:44 |
| #3 If not 'daffy will, no doubt, get the dreaded "strongly worded" memo. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2011-03-19 10:28 |
| #2 please pull them back. Because i'm pretty sure this is the percussor too him making yet another headwaving speech |
| Posted by: chris 2011-03-19 09:14 |
| #1 Why does one get the impression that Obama is an overflowing cup of egg custard? Why dont we just openly and honestly say it out loud...."Listen you Libyan monkey son of a biych, you either take the bus or we are going to take your country away from you and feed you to the the dog". Why IS it when you hear the phrase from a politician:"Let me be clear" that he's just waving his pencil? And as for the French...they want the US to do the work and pay for it too so they, the French, can sit around on each other's faces. And the Brits can go , "here , here!" |
| Posted by: Dribble2716 2011-03-19 05:50 |